Apparatus for heating liquids



L. G. ABOGADO.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYIZ, I919.

Patented J1me 21, 1921 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. G. ABOGADO.

APPARATUS FOR HEATING LIQUIDS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. I919.

Patented J uno 21, 1921.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT orrica.

LUIS G. ABQGADO, OF MEXICO, MEXICO.

APIPABATUS FOR HEATING LIQUIDS.

Application filed May 12,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LUIS G. AnooADo, c1t1-zen of Mexico, residin at Calle Indepen- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented June 21, 1921. 1919. Serial No. 296,303.

a liquid-supply pipe (not shown). The casing A is provided with acircumferential in 'ternal shoulder A on which is seated the dencia No.17, Mexico ity, Mexico, have illlower edge of a cylindrical shell B.Within vented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus forHeating Liquids, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for heating water and other liquidsby electricity, and has for its object to provide a very efficientdevice of this character which will cause the liquid to flow in a verythin "film between plates or electrodes connected with an electriccircuit, so that the current will pass through the liquid and heat it.When the apparatus contains no liquid, the circuit will be interruptedautomatically, and if the supply of water or other llquid is shut off ata time when the apparatus contains some liquid, the current will heatthis remaining liquid to a higher temperature than during the normaloperation (with the liquid flowing through the apparatus),.and thisgreater heating effect will bring about the evaporation of the body ofliquid, and ultimately the interruption of the circuit, as soon as noliquid remains between the electrodes.

Without desiring to restrict myself to the specific details illustrated,I have shown three preferred embodiments of my lnvention in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a vertical section throughone form of my improved apparatus, taken on line 1 -1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 2is a similar view, in a plane at right angles to Fig. 1, as indicated bythe section line 2.2 in Flg. 4; Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections onlines 3-3 and 4-4: respectively of Figs. 1 and 2 respectively; Fig. 5 isa top view of the bottom head or plug employed in, this form of myinvention; Fig. 6 is a top view of the apparatus; Fig. 7 is a verticalsection through the second form of my mvention, in a plane correspondingto that of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 shows this second form of my invention insection on a plane corresponding to that of Fig. 4; and Fig. 9 shows athird form. g Y

Referrin first to the construction represented in Figs. 1 to 6inclusive, A designates a bottom casing, preferably of circular crosssection, made of metal or other suitable material and provided with aninlet A which may be screw-threaded as shown for convenient connectionwith the threaded end of the lower portion of the shell is fitted thelower head or plug C formed with spaced segmental extensions 6 engagingthe inner surface of the shell, while the intervening portions of thesaid head are out of contact with the shell, so as to leave twosegmental passages 'D, D, see Fig. 4. These passages are in permanentcommunication with a chamber A* formed in the casing A below the head orplug C. Into the upper end of the shell B is fitted an upper head orplug F, sim lar to the head or plug C, but having 1ts entirecircumference in engagement with the inner surface of said shell. Eachof these heads or plugs is formed with a central aperture through whichpasses a longitudinal rod F threaded at its ends to receive nuts G, Gfitted into suitable countersinks or sockets in the outer faces'of saidheads, said rod and nuts forming a connection between the two heads. Theupper end of the shell B fits into an upper casing H, of annularconstruction, connected, as by screws J, with a cap K provided with anoutlet K, which may be connected with a goose neck pipe L or othersuitable means for carrying away the heated liquid. The ring or casing Htogether with the cap K correspond to the casing A. The screws J alsoserve to secure in position, an additional cap M, of insulatingmaterial, forming with the cap K a chamber N.

Between the heads or plugs C, E, which are made of insulating material,are located the two electrodes 0, O which are alike in shape, each ofthem comprising a segmental cylindrical portion of relatively largediameter and a cylinder segment of smaller diameter connected therewithby a bend lying substantially in a radialor axial plane. Any metal orother suitable conductor (say carbon) may be used as a material for theelectrodes. The two electrodes are fitted withtheir upper and loweredges into corresponding grooves in the opposing surfaces of the headsor plugs C, E, and the largediameter portion of one electrode is placedadjacent to the small-diameter portion of the other electrode, so thatthese two portions will be parallel and very close to each other. Theaxes of the cylinder segments coincide with the longitudinal axis of theentire ap paratus, that is to say, with the axis of the shell B and ofthe rod l Between the rod F and the electrodes 0, O a tube P, likewiseof conducting material, fitted concent-rically, the ends of said tubeentering annular grooves in the heads or plugs C. E. The cylindricalwall of this tube P is solid, except for perforations (preferably two),such as P, located at its upper portion, adjacent to the head E. Throughthese perforations, the annular chamber Q surroundling the tube Pcommunicates with a chamber R located within the upper portion of thetube P. The upper head E is provided with apertures E leading from saidchamber R to an outlet chamber S formed between said plug or head E andthe cap K. The two bends or axial portions connecting the two cylindersegments of the respective electrodes are substantially in diametricalalinement (see Fig. 3), and at these bends 1 secure to said electrodes,as by welding, longitudinal rods T the ends of which extend throughopenings in the heads C, E and are threaded to receive nuts U, U. Thelower nuts U engage washers V, while the upper nuts U engage insulatingwashers V, and insulating sleeves V, which might be made integral withthe washers V, surround, the rods T where they pass through the cap K,which is generally made of metal. The wires W for supplying the currentpass through a suitable aperture in the cap .or cover M, and their endsare clamped against the nuts U by binding nuts W of wellknown character,these terminals being thus contained in the chamber N, and protected bythe cap M.

On the threaded portions of the rod F are mounted loosely two disks Xthe peripheries of which engage the inner surface of the tube P with asliding fit, and these disks are pressed toward each other by nuts Y, tohold in position a heat-retaining body Z, which is a stone-like massfilling the tube P between said disks; such mass may consist, forinstance, of a hydraulic cement made from cement, asbestos, bone ash,and some bichromate of potash to harden the mass.

Through the caps M, K and the upper head E extends a vertical rod amounted to turn about its axis and carrying at its upper end a handle awhich may also serve as.

a pointer indicating on a scale M on the outer cap M. This rod extendswithin the tube P, and is provided with a switch-plate I) always inelectrical connection with, say, the tube P, and adapted to be swunginto contact with the electrode '0, so that when the switch is in thisposition, the tube P is electrically connected with said electrode andvirtually becomes part of it.

In operation, the electrodes 0, 0 having been connected with a source ofelectricity, water or other liquid will pass through the inlet A intothe chamber X and from there through the segmental passages D, D intothe outer portion of the annular cham her (,1, adjacent to the shell B.Vater will then flow in contact with the outer surfaces of the outerelectrode segments, to reach the vertical or longitudinal slots 0 formedbe tween the vertical edge of the outer segment of one electrode and therod T at the bend of the other electrode. The water then flows betweenthe two electrodes 0, O in the direction indicated by the arrows, theflow being partly circumferential and partly longitudr nal (toward theoutlet), so that the liquid travels substantially ina helical or spiralpath. When the liquid thus reaches the free edges of the inner electrodesegments, it will pass inwardly through vertical slots (Z formed betweensaid free edges and the bends of the other electrodes. The liquid' thusreaches the space between the inner electrode segments and the tube P,and leaves said space through the perforations P, thus passing into thechamber R and from there through the apertures E to the chamber S andthe outlet L. It will be obvious that the liquid forms a part of thecircuit, that is to say, the current cannot begin to flow until theliquid engages both electrodes 0, O and thus forms an electricalconnection between them. The water or other liquid is thus heated, andit will be noted that in the preferred operation the cool water is incontact with the inner wall or surface of the shell B, while the hotterwater is nearer the center or axis of the apparatus; I thus practicallyprevent the loss of heat radiated by the shell B. The temperature whichthe liquid has at the outlet L will depend, of course, on the time theliquid remains in the apparatus, and this is controlled by opening moreor less the cock in the water supply pipe leading to the inlet A. As theelectrode surfaces are very close to each other, and spaced uniformly, avery even and efficient heating action is obtained. Part of the heatwill be absorbed by the body Z, which thus becomes a heatreservoir tocompensate for any fluctuations in the heating effect which may be dueto irregularities in the flow of the liquid or of the current.

Throwing the switch Z) so that it will connect the tube P with one ofthe electrodes, will virtually increase the surface of that electrodeand thereby reduce the internal resistance of the apparatus, so that theam perage of the current is increased. The inside of the shell B mightbe coated with pitch or other suitable material to prevent rusting oroxidation. 1

If the supply of water or other liquid is stopped, as by closing thecock in the watersupply pipe, the effect will at first (for a fewseconds) be a moderate rise of the aim perage, and then, as the waterbecomes heated more highly owing, tothe fact that there is no renewaland carrying away of the heated water, the boiling point will be reachedand the amount of water withinthe apparatus will be reduced byevaporation. This will reduce thearea of the wetted electrode surfaceand thereby further increase the heating effect. Finally, when theentire amount of water in contact with the electrodes has evaporated,there will be no electrical connection between the electrodes, and thecircuit will thus be broken automatically.

In the construction illustrated by Figs. 7 and 8, which is adapted foroperation by a three-phase current, there are three electrodes O O 0",each of the general steplike arrangement described in connection withthe electrodes 0, O, but instead of comprising only two segments ofdifferent diameters, each of these electrodes 0 0 O has three segmentsof different diameters, with intervening bends, forming three sets ofvertical slots 0, d, e, the three slots of the same set being evenlyspaced circumferentially (120 apart),.and the outer segment of oneelectrode overlapping the. intermediate segment of the adjacentelectrode, which segment again overlaps the inner segment of anotherelectrode. All of thesesegments are concentric with the axis of the rodF. There are three terminals or binding posts, one for eachof theelectrodes. In other respects, the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8is the same as in Figs. 1 to 6, but no'switch such as b is shown inFigs.

' 7and 8.

It will be understood that the number of electrodes may be varied, andthat other modifications may be made without departing from the natureof m invention as set forth in the appended claims.

In Fig. 9 the shell B is rectangular instead of cylindrical, and theelectrodes 0,

Q are given a corresponding shape. They too consist of portions of asegmental nature arranged to overlap and to form. a spiral path for thethin film of liquid traveling between the electrodes, the opposing,film: engaging faces of the electrodes being evenly spaced at all pointsof the film, in each form of my invention. Furthermore, it will be seenthat in each form of my invention each individual electrode extendsmore'than halfway around the center or axis of the casing, inv fact,almost 360", 'thus'lengthening the path of the liquid and affording avery large contact surface for; the heating action.

Likewise, the width of the longitudinal slits formed between the edge ofone electrode and an intermediate portion of an adjacent electrode, isequal to the distance between the main surfaces of adj acentelectrodesbetween which the film of liquid flows, so that the cross section of thestream of liquid .is the same at said slits and between said'filmformingsurfaces.

The heating action of the current is due largely to the heat generatedby the passage of the current through the water, and partly to theheating of the electrodes themselves, which then transfer their heat tothe water.

The current supplied to the apparatus may be ordinar lighting, current,direct or alternating igs. 1 to 6 and 9).

I claim as my invention: 1. An electric heater for liquids, comprising acasing forming a chamber adapted to contain the liquid, an electrodelocated in said'chamber and having its terminal edges located adjacentto each other and both on v the same side of the casing, the portion ofthe electrode adjacent to one of said edges being nearer the center ofthe casing than the portion adjacent to the other electrode edge, andanother similar electrode arranged in step-like fashion relatively tothe firstnamed electrode and extending between said terminal edges ofthe first-named electrode, but out of contact therewith, said secondelectrode having an inner portion overlapped by the outer portion of thefirstnamed electrode, and an outer portion overlapping the inner portionof the same firstnamed electrode. J

2. An electric heater for liquids, compris-' ing a casing forming-achamber adapted to contain the liquid, electrodes located 1n saidchamber,' a tubular member located in the from the electric circuit ofsaid electrodes,

and a switch movable from a position in which it leaves said conductingbody in its normal disconnected condition, to a position in which itestablishes an electrical connection between said conducting bodyand oneof the said electrodes, whereby the effective area of said electrode maybe varied.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si ature.

LUIS e. ABOG no.

